If you’ve ever driven that lonely stretch of I-25 between Albuquerque and Las Cruces, you know there’s not much to look at besides desert scrub and the occasional gas station. But twice a year—specifically during basketball season—that 225-mile paved ribbon becomes the most intense geographical divide in the Southwest. We’re talking about the UNM vs NMSU basketball rivalry, a series that's been running since 1894. Honestly, calling it a "game" is kind of an understatement. It’s a culture clash, a state-wide argument, and a series of heart attacks masquerading as a sporting event.
People here don’t just "prefer" one team. You're either a Lobo or an Aggie. There is no middle ground. If you try to play it safe and say you like both, you’ll basically get laughed out of every bar from Nob Hill to University Avenue.
The Recent Chaos: What Just Happened?
Let’s talk about the 2024-25 season because, man, it was a weird one. If you missed the December 7, 2024, game at The Pit, you missed one of those "only in New Mexico" nights. The Lobos came in hot, but the Aggies didn't care about the noise. In a game that felt like a street fight with a whistle, New Mexico State stunned UNM with an 89-83 overtime win. Christian Cook went absolutely nuclear, dropping 27 points. It was the kind of performance that makes Lobo fans want to pull their hair out and Aggie fans want to frame the box score.
Then came the 2025-26 season opener. On November 15, 2025, the series moved down to the Pan American Center in Las Cruces. Different year, same intensity. The Aggies took that one too, winning 76-68. It’s the first time in a while we’ve seen NMSU really string together some dominance over their northern rivals.
The coaching carousel has added a whole other layer of "wait, what?" to the mix. Richard Pitino, who really revitalized the UNM program and took them back to the NCAA Tournament in 2024, actually moved on to Xavier in March 2025. Now, the Lobos are navigating a new era under Eric Olen, who’s trying to keep that momentum going. On the other side, Jason Hooten has been steadying the ship for the Aggies, proving that NMSU isn't going anywhere even after all the program drama a few years back.
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A Rivalry Measured in Decades, Not Just Points
The history here is deep. Like, "older than the state itself" deep. New Mexico didn't even become a state until 1912, but these two schools were already throwing hands (and balls) back in the late 1800s.
The All-Time Numbers
Currently, the University of New Mexico leads the all-time series 125–105. But don't let that gap fool you. Since 1950, when things got more "official" in terms of major school classification, the lead is much narrower—77–65.
In the last decade, it’s been a total seesaw. Between 2012 and 2022, the advantage was a razor-thin 10-8 in favor of UNM. That’s why the recent NMSU wins feel so big. Every time one team looks like they're pulling away, the other one finds a way to drag them back into the mud.
- The First Meeting: 1894 (UNM won 67-38)
- The Venue Factor: UNM’s "The Pit" is legendary for being loud, but the Pan Am Center in Cruces can be a nightmare for visiting teams.
- The Frequency: Unlike most non-conference rivalries that play once a year, these two usually play home-and-home. Two games a year. Double the stress.
Why This Rivalry Feels Different
If you’re from out of state, you might compare this to Duke-UNC or Kentucky-Louisville. It’s similar, sure, but there’s a specific "New Mexico-ness" to it. It’s about more than basketball. It’s about the "Burque" energy versus the agricultural roots of the south. It’s the red chile versus green chile of sports.
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Actually, they literally play for a trophy now called "The Roaster." It’s a 30-pound iron chile roaster. Seriously. If that doesn't tell you everything you need to know about this state's priorities, nothing will.
The "Red Rally" and The "Burning of the Lobo"
Traditions here get a little... pyrotechnic. Before the big game, UNM students hold the "Red Rally," where they burn a giant effigy of an Aggie. It was actually ranked by Sports Illustrated as one of the "102 Things You Have to Do Before You Graduate." Not to be outdone, NMSU students have their own bonfire where they torch a Lobo. It's a bit aggressive, yeah, but that's the level of buy-in we're dealing with here.
The Women’s Series is Just as Wild
We can't talk about UNM vs NMSU basketball and ignore the women's teams. While the men's series is a back-and-forth grind, the women's series tends to happen in massive waves of dominance.
Back in the 80s and 90s, NMSU (then known as the Roadrunners) absolutely owned the series, once winning 16 games in a row. But in the modern era, UNM has turned the tables. On November 16, 2025, the Lobo women put on a clinic, beating NMSU 77-45. It’s a weird dynamic—usually, when one school is winning on the men’s side, the other is dominating the women’s side. It keeps the trash talk balanced.
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What to Watch for Next
If you’re trying to keep up with where this is heading in 2026 and beyond, there are a few things to keep an eye on:
- The Eric Olen Era at UNM: Replacing a name like Pitino is never easy. How Olen handles the pressure of The Pit will define the next five years of Lobo basketball.
- Jemel Jones and the Aggie Core: NMSU has found some real gems in the portal. Jemel Jones has been a walking bucket, and if he stays healthy, the Aggies might just sweep the series again.
- The "Roaster" Factor: Now that there's a physical trophy on the line, the intensity in those mid-season non-conference games has somehow gone up a notch.
Honestly, the best way to experience this is just to show up. If you haven't been to a game where the entire arena is screaming "L-O-B-O" or "A-G-G-I-E-S" until their veins pop out, you haven't really seen New Mexico sports.
Your next steps for staying in the loop:
Check the official Mountain West and Conference USA schedules in late summer to see when the 2026 dates are finalized. Usually, they’ll play one game in late November and the return leg in early December. If you're planning to go, buy tickets the day they go on sale—The Pit sells out fast for the Battle of I-25, and the Pan Am Center is just as packed.